Coal mining machine



1952 F. CARTLIDGE com, MINING MACHINE 4 sheets-sheet 1 Filed Dec. 22. 1949 A Tro eNE/ INVENTOR. mnkfalllidge My awk NOV 25, 1952 1 CARTUDGE 2,619,340

COAL. MINING MACHINE Filed Dec. 2 2, 1949 4 Sheets-*Sheet 2- INVEN TOR.

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COAL MINING MACHINE Filed Dec. 22, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VEN TOR.

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com. MINING MACHINE Filed Dec. 22, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 67 68 Fig.7

IN VEN TOR.

A TTORNE Patented Nov. 25, 1952 COAL MINING MACHINE Frank Cartlidge, Chicago, 111., assignor to Goodman Manufacturing Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application December 22, 1949, Serial No. 134,419

3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in a coal mining machine of the kind adapted for cutting and loading coal from a mine face without an intermediate blasting operation. Various forms of such machines, designed to remove the coal from the solid working face and commonly referred to as continuous mining machines, have heretofore been proposed and employed, but such machines have generally been too complicated and costly for economical operation, under prevailing conditions in a coal mine.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a machine of the character above described which is relatively simple in construction and operation, requiring a'minimum amount of motive power and yet having adequate flexibility required for removing the coal from a solid face, either in entry driving or in panel or room work.

Other objectsand advantages of my invention will appear from time to time as the following description proceeds.

The invention may best be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a machine constructed in accordance with my invention with portions of the cutting element and the discharge boom broken away;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the machine shown in Figure 1, showing the machine in operatingposition adjacent a mine face;

Figure 3 is an enlarged detailed section taken generally on a vertical plane intersecting the cutter mechanism at the front end of the machine with parts broken away to show certain structural details of the machine;

Figure 4 is an enlarged transverse section of the machine taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a detailed fragmentary section of the front end of the cutter bar element;

Figure 6 is a detailedside view of the cutter chain employed with the bar mechanism; and

Figure 7 is an enlarged transverse section of the cutter chain taken on line 1-1 of Figure 6.

Referring now to the details of the embodimenttending between the front and rear sprockets. The supports l4, M are suitably connected to pedestals 55, I5 depending from base [0. The two treads may as usual be independently driven, as by electric motors 16, I6 mounted adjacent opposite sides of the base and each connected through suitable gear reductions indicated generally at I! to drive sprocket I3a and drive chain 8 to drive sprocket l9 fixed on the tread sprocket l3 for each tread. The drive motors I6, l6 are preferably provided with suitable individual controls (not shown), permitting variable speed and reversible drive of the two endless tread devices independently of each other as usual,- for maneuvering-the machine universally over the mine floor at the will of the operator.

A turntable 20 of relatively large diameter is mounted at the front end of the base In to support the cutting mechanism for lateral swinging movement across the front end and to opposite sides of the base. In the form shown herein, the turntable comprises a ring-shaped plate 2i rotatably mounted within a flanged marginal guide ring 22 forming part of the base I0 and having superposed inwardly extending annular retaining plates 23 detachably secured thereto as by bolts 24, to hold the outer edge of the turntable on said base. The inner edge of the ring-shaped plate 21 of said turntable is rotatably mounted about an upstanding shoulder 25 formed integrally with the base [0. A centrally disposed opening 26 of hopper-like form extends through the upper wall of the base It] within the turntable ring, for permitting mined material to be deposited upon a discharge conveyor 29 housed in the lower part of the base, as will hereinafter more fully be described. I i I The turntable 20 is rotated by power of a reversible motor I through a gear train indicated at 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d and 8e engaged with peripheral gear teeth 9 on the turntable plate 2|, to feed the cutter bar across the working face.

A cutting element, indicated generally at 30, is mounted for vertical adjustment on the turntable so that the entire cutting element can be bodilyraised or lowered with respect thereto. In the form shown herein, the adjustable supporting means for the cutting element is of a conventional rack and pinion type, heretofore commonly employed in mounted kerf-cutting machines, and includes two pairs of laterally spaced upright supports 32, 32 fixed on the turntable plate 2! and having vertical racks 33, 33 along their inner sides engaged by pinions 34 on shafts 35 rotatably mounted at'opposite sides of the supporting frame 36 of the cutting element. In the form shown herein, the shafts of the elevating pinions 34 are driven in unison from a transverse shaft 31 rotatably mounted on the supporting frame 36 and having worms 38, 38 at opposite ends thereof engaged with worm gears 39, 39 fixed on the front ends of pinion shafts 35. The transverse worm shaft 31 is selectively driven through cone clutch members 40 and 4| and worm gear 42 fixed to one of said clutch members which is freely rotatable on the transverse shaft 31. The worm gear 42 is driven by a worm 44 on a longitudinally extending shaft 45 having a gear 46 at its rear end meshed with the armature pinion 41 of a drive motor 49 supported on the rear end of the cutter supporting frame 36. The motor 49 also drives the cutting mechanism through gearing'which will presently be described.

The cutting element 39 includes a cutter bar 49 projecting forwardly in a generally verticalplane from. supporting frame 36. generally triangular. in shape and has a cutter chain 50 guidedthereabout. The front end of said. cutter frame consists of a generally upright guide rail 5|, connected to an upper guide rail 52 anda lower guide rail 53. The upper guide rail 52 is: disposed generally horizontally excepting that the forward end is preferably tilted upwardly a. few degrees from the horizontal so that under most conditions the cutter chain will not engage the roof of the mine, excepting. adjacent. the. front end of the cutter frame. The

lower guide rail 53 is disposed at a substantially downwardly inclined angle fromthe supporting frame 36 so. that, when. the supporting frame is'adjusted to its lowermost position,.as indicated in Figures 1, 2' and 3, the cutter chain 59 will reach substantially to th'e'floor leveliat its lowermost turning point at the front end ofthe-frame, but saidcutter chain is carried upwardly by the lower guide rail 53 so as to clear the front end of the base In, as shown. The arrangementv of thetriangular cutter bar is such that itsadvance edge will out avertical kerf substantially the full overall height of the. machine.

The cutter chain 59 may be of any suitable construction similar to conventional kerf-cutter chains, including lugs 55, 55 pivotally connected by links 55, 56. Inthe preferred form shown herein, the cutter chain is provided with removable cutter bits extending at a greater number of angular positions with respect to the cutter chain and, for this purpose, not only the lugs 55 with bits 51 are disposed at different angles with regard thereto, but also the connecting links 59 have bit supports 58 extending from thesides thereof, as shown in-Figures 5, 6 and '7'. In addition, some of the bit-carrying lugs 55, as well as the bit supports 58 on the links, may have special bits 59, each with a-single shank but with forked cutting ends 60, 60', as shown, to increase the number of. bit positions of the cutter chain over the number usually employed with conventional cutter chains. Thus, in the form shown in Figure 5, it willbe observed that the chain has a total of twelve bit. positions, including three forked bits. The provision of a relatively large number. ofbit positions, as described, is especially desirable with my improved form of machine, inasmuch as most of the actual cutting is accomplished while the cutter bar is being swung laterally, as will hereinafter more fully appear.

In the form shown herein, the cutter chain 59- is trained over idler sprockets 62, 62 pivoted ad- Said cutter baris jacent the upper and lower front corners of the triangular cutter bar 49. The front, upper and lower guide rails 5|, 52 and 53 may be provided as usual with retaining gibs 63, 63 which slidably retain projecting flanges 64, 64 at the base of the chain lugs 55, in the same manner as with conventional kerf-cutting chains (see Figures 6 and 7).

The cutterchain 59 is trained about a drive sprocket l5 fixed on a horizontal shaft 16 journalled on the supporting frame 36 beyond the rear end of the triangular cutter bar 49. The drive sprocket I5 is driven from the motor 48 through suitable gearing, herein consisting of a bevelled gear lfl'fixed on the end of shaft I6 and meshed with apinion l1 fixed on the longitudinal drive shaft 45, heretofore described with reference to the mechanism for adjusting the elevation of the cutting element 30.

A cuttings gathering trough 90 is mounted along the bottom of the cutter bar 49 to span the bottom reach. of the cutter chain 50 from the forwardmost. lower corner of said cutter bar to apoint adjacent and'below the cutter chain drive sprocket 15. The trough is substantially wider than. the. overall width of the cutter chain, including its bits, and includes a bottom wall 8| and upright side walls 82, 82'. The side walls overlap the opposite sides of the lower guide rail 53 in spaced relation for the-maj or portion of the length thereof. The front end of said trough is supported on the. cutter bar by a cross pin 83 fixed at its opposite ends to the side walls 82 of. said trough and passing through a supporting web 84' forming part-of the cutter bar, substantially in vertical alignment with the center of the latter, as shown in Figure 5. Coil springs 85, 85 surround the pin 83 between the web 84 and each of the side walls 82 to permit lateral yielding movement of the front end of the trough relative to the cutter bar. The rear end of the trough is pivotally supported on a vertically disposed pin 88 journalled on an upstanding boss 89 on-the turntable plate 2|, as shown in Figure 3, so as to permit limited lateral yielding movement of the forward end'of the trough.

Referring now to the cuttings discharge and loading means, the rear end of the upwardly inclined gathering trough 80 terminates above the hopper-like opening 26 previously described as being formed centrally of the base member I0. This opening communicates with a horizontally disposed section 90 of an endless conveyor supported on the base member substantially below the turntable, as by a plurality of transverse supporting rods 9|, 9| connected between the depending tread supporting pedestals |5. The endless conveyor is preferably made considerably narrower than the base portion l0 and, as shown herein, includes a bottom plate 92 and side walls 93, with aflight conveyor 94 of the central chain type moving along the bottom plate 92 and returning, as usual, beneath said plate. Portions 96, 96 of the side walls 93 are flared outwardly beneath the front part of the central hopper 26 so that all the cuttings delivered through said hopper opening will be guided inwardly to the conveyor flights.

The front section 9|] extends rearwardly beneath the major portion of the frame and is continued upwardly in an inclined portion 91 and a horizontal discharge portion 98 of suit able height to load the cuttings upon a mine car (not shown) The conveyor may be driven by any suitable means, herein consisting of a motor 99 fixed on the side of the inclined portion 91 of the conveyor, and having suitable driving connections with the central chain of the conveyor, in the usual manner.

Use and operation The use and operation of the machine hereinabove described is as follows:

The machine is maneuvered over the mine floor by its endless tread mechanisms so as to bring the front edge of the cutter bar to the working face in position to make a laterally swinging cut.

Generally speaking, the machine is adapted for removing the coal from the working face with the endless treads and base held stationary while feeding the cutter bar with a relatively long arcuate out about the vertical axis of the turntable, as indicated in Figure 2. Thus, for relatively wide rooms or entries, the cutter bar would be initially adjusted at an angle of approximately 90 degrees to the side wall or rib of the room or entry and then swept across the arcuate face formed by a previous cut, so as to remove a portion of the coal to a depth approximating the total longitudinal dimensions of the cutter chain, including its cutter bits, and for a height defined by the full height of the front edge of the cutter bar.

It will also be understood that the cutter bar 49 is capable of vertical adjustment with the entire cutting element 30 so as to make an arcuate cutting sweep at various levels above the floor. Accordingly, where the height of the working face which is to be removed is substantially greater than the vertical height of the cutter bar, the cutter bar can first be swung through an arc at one level and then returned to make a cut at another level so as to remove the desired vertical height of the face above the floor.

The cutter bar may out either from right to left or from left to right. Accordingly, the cutting operation will be expedited under ordinary conditions by alternately making a sweep in one direction to the extent desired, followed by a second sweep in the opposite direction, with the entire machine moved forwardly on its endless treads for each successive swing of the cutter bar.

It will also be understood that the machine can be employed by making arcuate cuts of substantially less than 180 degrees if desired, as for instance when cutting a relatively narrow entry or room. In this case, it may be desirable to make an initial sumping cut by feeding the whole machine bodily toward the working face on its endless treads, with the cutter bar disposed either directly in front of the machine, or at a suitable angle thereto.

During any of the cutting operations previously suggested, it will be understood that the cuttings removed by the vertical component of the cutter chain at the front edge of the cutter bar will be deposited directly into the lower end of the gathering trough 80 and will be carried upwardly by the cutter chain for delivery by gravity through the hopper 26 to the discharge conveyor 21. In this manner, substantially all the cuttings will be removed and discharged from the machine as rapidly as the cutting proceeds.

By mounting the forward end of the cuttings gathering trough for lateral yielding movement relative to the cutter bar, the trough will tend to remain in centered relation with respect to the cutter bar at all times excepting when the trough may strike relatively immovable obstructions, in which case the trough will yield so as to minimize the danger of injury or breakage to the mechanism. It will be noted in this connection that the bottom face of the trough is inclined upwardly toward both sides thereof, so as to tend to ride over any obstructions on the mine floor which might otherwise impede the progress of the cutter bar assembly during its arcuate cutting movement.

While I have herein shown and described one form in which my invention may be embodied, it will be understood that the construction thereof and the arrangement of the various parts may be altered without departing from the spirit .and scope thereof. Furthermore, I do not wish to be construed as limiting my invention to the specific embodiment illustrated, excepting at it may be limited in the appended claims.

I. claim as my invention:

1. In a mining machine, a base having mobile supporting means, cutting mechanism mounted on said base including a chain carrying cutter bar projecting beyond said base for horizontal swinging movement in advance and to opposite sides of said base, the cutter bar having its cutter chain guided thereabout in a vertical plane for lateral engagement with the face being mined, said chain having a plurality of bits randomly oriented to point in substantially all directions through a full l-degree range at the outer half thereof to thereby readily cut when moved relative to a face being mined in directions parallel or normal to the plane of the cutter bar or in any direction therebetween, means on said base for swinging said cutter bar and chain horizontally, cuttings conveyor means mounted on said base and extending rearwardly therefrom to a discharge point, and a cuttings collecting trough mounted for transverse yielding movement adjacent its forward end on said cutter bar and extending along and beneath the lower edge of the latter from a point immediately adjacent the forward edge of said bar to a point above said outtings conveyor means on said base, the bottom of said collecting trough being arranged to be swept by the cutter chain moving therealong to transport the cutting from the working face and discharge the same on said cuttings conveyor means.

2. In a mining machine, a base having mobile supporting means, cuttin mechanism mounted on said base including a chain carrying cutter bar projecting beyond said base for horizontal swinging movement in advance and to opposite sides of said base, the cutter bar having its cutter chain guided thereabout in a vertical plane, with the front edge of said cutter bar extended downwardly to guide the cutter chain therealong in lateral engagement with the face being mined for substantially the full height of said base, said chain having a plurality of bits randomly oriented to point in substantially all directions through a full -degree range at the outer half thereof to thereby readily cut when moved relative to a face being mined in directions parallel or normal to the plane of the cutter bar or in any direction thereloetween, means on said base for swinging said cutter bar and chain horizontally, cuttings conveyor means mounted on said base and extending rearwardly therefrom to a discharge point, the lower edge of said cutter bar being inclined upwardly from the lower forward edge of said cutter bar, 'and'acuttings collecting trough mounted along and beneath the lower edge of said cutter bar and similarly inclined from a point immediately adjacent the lower forward edge of said bar to a point above said cuttings conveyor means on said base, the bottom of said collecting trough being arranged to be swept by the cutter chain moving therealong to transport the cuttings'from the working face and discharge the same on said cuttings conveyor means.

3. In a mining machine, a base having mobile supporting means, a turntable mounted on said base, cutting mechanism supported on said turntable including a chain carrying cutter bar projecting beyond said turntable and base for horizontal swinging movement in advance and to opposite sides of said turntable and base, the cutter bar having cutter chain guiding means thereabout disposed in a vertical plane with the front edge of said cutter bar extending downwardly to guide its cutter chain therealong in lateral engagement with the face being mined for substantially the full height of said base, said chain having a plurality of bits randomly oriented'to point in substantially all directions through a full 180- degree range at the outer half thereof to thereby readily cut when moved relative to a. face being mined in directions parallel or normal to the plane of the cutter bar or in any direction therebetween, means on said base for swinging said cutter bar and chain horizontally, said turntable having a centrally disposed opening therein, cuttings conveyor means mounted on said base beneath said turntable opening and extending rearwardly therefrom to a discharge point, and a cuttings collecting trough mounted along and beneath the lower edge of said cutter bar and similarly inclined from a point immediately adjacent the forward edge of said bar to a point above said cuttings conveyor mean on said base, the bottom of said collecting trough being arranged to be swept by the cutter chain moving therealong to transport the cuttings from the working face and discharge the same on said cuttings conveyor means.

FRANK CARTLIDGE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,508,633 Wilson Sept. 16, 1924 1,753,804 Powell Apr. 8, 1930 2,082,119 Pray June 1, 1937 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 498,428 Germany May 22, 1930 

